Saeid Habibzadeh
PhD
​Tip and Root Vortex Generators for Boundary Layer Control on Wind Turbine Dedicated Airfoils​
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Host Organisation
​Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
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Company ​
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Project Description
This project investigates use of vortex generators (VGs) as a strategy for enhancing boundary-layer control on wind turbine airfoils, with particular focus on tip and root regions. It includes systematic studies of VG geometry, spacing, and placement, followed by the development of optimization frameworks addressing both fixed-airfoil designs and coupled VG–airfoil configurations. The scope further extends to reduced-order source-term modeling, supported by surrogate methods, to enable efficient large-scale optimization.
Supervisors
Main Supervisor: Prof. Martin Otto Laver Hansen
Co-Supervisors: S.r Research Scientist Frederik Zahle & Post doc. Mads Holst Aagaard Madsen
External Academic Supervisor: Dr. Caroline Braud (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
External Industry Supervisor: Head of Rotor Performance at Siemens Gamesa, Alex Loeven
Background
I was born in northwestern Iran in January 1998 and moved to Tehran to study Aerospace Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology, earning my bachelor’s (2020) and master’s (2023) degrees. My work focused on gas turbines and turbomachinery, emphasizing CFD, aerodynamic shape optimization, and off-design cycle analysis. I developed design codes, optimized compressor blades, and contributed to turbine flowmeter projects. Now at DTU Wind, I’ve traded the fuel flames of gas turbines for the gentle push of the wind, focusing on wind turbines and contributing to their full potential.
Motivation
My previous experience with rotary machinery has given me a solid foundation in fluid dynamics and system optimization, but I felt a strong need to transition toward renewable energy. At DTU, I have the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of wind turbine technology while applying my experience in CFD and optimization to real-world challenges. This project allows me to combine my technical skills with my growing interest in sustainable energy, contributing to solutions that advance both academic understanding and practical applications in the field.